Relatives of alleged victim come to defense of child sex suspect

Michael Crowder

By Lauren Baheri

Published: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 04:34 PM.

The man accused of sexually assaulting a 9-month-old girl faced a judge Tuesday. A relative of the child in question was in court Tuesday to speak up for Michael McCoy Crowder, 56, of 421 Connor St., Gastonia. She says she was at the party where the allegations surfaced and that Crowder did not assault a child.

An accuser alleged Crowder pulled down her pants several times while the two were at a birthday party. According to arrest records, at least two people also claim to have seen Crowder put his hand in an infant’s diaper while the mother was holding the baby and playing cards.

According to arrest records, one woman who saw the incident began hitting Crowder afterward. Police then arrived and arrested him. He was jailed on a $1 million bond.

Crowder was working for a local nursing home at the time of his arrest. According to arrest records, Crowder worked for Meadowwood nursing home at 4414 Wilkinson Blvd., Gastonia. It is not clear what job Crowder has or had at the nursing home or the current status of his employment. Calls to the nursing home were not returned Tuesday.

Relatives believe Crowder is innocent: In Crowder’s first court appearance Tuesday, District Court Judge Ralph Gingles appointed a public defender. Two friends of Crowder’s and relatives of the 9-month-old appeared in court. Pamela Fletcher, the infant’s great-aunt, was at the birthday party where Crowder was accused of the crimes. She claims the accusations are just a vendetta against Crowder, and says he never touched the child.

“He did not do that,” she said. “He did not touch that baby. The accusations are totally false.” She says the accuser didn’t immediately call 911 or begin fighting him. Fletcher says her niece, the child’s mother, has taken the child to the hospital as a precaution.

You can reach reporter Lauren Baheri at 704-869-1842 or Twitter.com/lbaheri.

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The man accused of sexually assaulting a 9-month-old girl faced a judge Tuesday. A relative of the child in question was in court Tuesday to speak up for Michael McCoy Crowder, 56, of 421 Connor St., Gastonia. She says she was at the party where the allegations surfaced and that Crowder did not assault a child.

An accuser alleged Crowder pulled down her pants several times while the two were at a birthday party. According to arrest records, at least two people also claim to have seen Crowder put his hand in an infant’s diaper while the mother was holding the baby and playing cards.

According to arrest records, one woman who saw the incident began hitting Crowder afterward. Police then arrived and arrested him. He was jailed on a $1 million bond.

Crowder was working for a local nursing home at the time of his arrest. According to arrest records, Crowder worked for Meadowwood nursing home at 4414 Wilkinson Blvd., Gastonia. It is not clear what job Crowder has or had at the nursing home or the current status of his employment. Calls to the nursing home were not returned Tuesday.

Relatives believe Crowder is innocent: In Crowder’s first court appearance Tuesday, District Court Judge Ralph Gingles appointed a public defender. Two friends of Crowder’s and relatives of the 9-month-old appeared in court. Pamela Fletcher, the infant’s great-aunt, was at the birthday party where Crowder was accused of the crimes. She claims the accusations are just a vendetta against Crowder, and says he never touched the child.

“He did not do that,” she said. “He did not touch that baby. The accusations are totally false.” She says the accuser didn’t immediately call 911 or begin fighting him. Fletcher says her niece, the child’s mother, has taken the child to the hospital as a precaution.

You can reach reporter Lauren Baheri at 704-869-1842 or Twitter.com/lbaheri.